Daily WHUFC News - 27th December 2015

FT - Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham United
WHUFC.com

Barclays Premier League, Villa Park, Saturday 26 December 2015

West Ham United drew for the fifth Barclays Premier League fixture in a row
after failing to land a Boxing Day knockout at bottom club Aston Villa. The
Hammers looked on course for a welcome first win in eight games when Aaron
Cresswell smashed home in first-half stoppage time, only for Jordan Ayew's
penalty to grab Villa a deserved point. The first half was a competitive
affair, even if the quality of play in the final third may not have been up
to the standard demanded by Slaven Bilic and Remi Garde. With injuries again
depriving Bilic of six first-team players, including five attackers, the
visitors struggled to create the clear-cut opportunities needed to put the
game beyond Villa after Cresswell's long-range strike.

West Ham's early momentum was slowed by another injury, with James Tomkins
suffering a nasty cut below his eye after clashing heads with Alan Hutton.
Despite resuming after lengthy treatment Tomkins would be replaced at
half-time. In the meantime, both sides went close once in the opening 25
minutes, Rudy Gestede heading Jordan Veretout's left-wing cross narrowly
wide before Mauro Zarate tested Brad Guzan with a low drive which the
American tipped past the post. After a period in the ascendancy, Villa then
lost Carlos Sanchez to a hamstring injury and then a goal to Cresswell, who
collected Michail Antonio's cross-field pass before firing a low, left-foot
shot past Guzan and into the bottom right-hand corner.

West Ham replaced Tomkins with Carl Jenkinson at the break and, after a
brief period of pressure from the visitors, Garde's men took control and
created a succession of decent chances. Gestede headed over before Adrian
dived to his right to keep out goal-bound efforts from Veretout and then the
big Benin striker, who proved to be a real handful on his return to the
starting XI. West Ham attacked sparingly, with Collins' glancing header over
the bar their only chance of note. Just after the hour-mark, Villa got their
reward for an improved showing when Angelo Ogbonna was penalised for
bundling over Gestede, and Ayew sent Adrian the wrong way from the penalty
spot.

Having levelled, Villa caused a few further moments of panic, but it was
West Ham who had the next half-chance, but penalty appeals were ignored
after Mark Noble's fierce volley thundered into Leandro Bacuna. Ashley
Westwood then volleyed over as Villa went back on the front foot, and
Collins had to be in exactly the right place to deny former teammate Hutton,
whose header looked destined for the Hammers net.

Bilic sent on Alex Song and Reece Oxford in a bid to slow the hosts' charge
and the move paid off, with Pedro Obiang testing Guzan, who then kept out
Valencia's dipping free-kick in the final minute of added time. In the final
analysis, West Ham may have surrendered their lead, but with so many regular
starters absent, this was another point earned through teamwork and
resilience. The Hammers will hope to welcome back some of those absent
players when they welcome Southampton to the Boleyn Ground on Monday 28
December at 5.30pm.

Aston Villa: Guzan, Hutton, Okore, Lescott (c), Bacuna, Westwood, Sanchez
(Gil 38), Gana, Veretout (Adama 83), Ayew, Gestede
Subs not used: Bunn (GK), Clark, Sinclair, Richardson, Grealish
Goal: Ayew (61 pen)
Booked: Bacuna, Hutton, Lescott

West Ham United: Adrian, Tomkins (Jenkinson 46), Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell
(Song 75), Obiang, Noble (c), Kouyate, Zarate (Oxford 85), Antonio, Valencia
Subs not used: Randolph (GK), Hendrie, Cullen, Parfitt-Williams
Goal: Cresswell (45+2)
Booked: Ogbonna, Collins, Kouyate

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

Attendance: 38,661

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Mixed feelings for Cresswell
WHUFC.com

Aaron Cresswell admitted the joy of scoring his first goal of the season was
tempered by frustration of letting Aston Villa grab a Barclays Premier
League draw on Boxing Day.

The left-back hammered his side in front in first-half stoppage time at
Villa Park, but the visitors were pegged pack and forced to settle for a
fifth stalemate in succession through Jordan Ayew's second-half penalty.

Injury added to insult for the No3, who was forced off with a minor
hamstring injury with 15 minutes remaining, ending his ever-present
top-flight record stretching back to his arrival in summer 2014.

"It's frustrating because, especially in the first half, I thought we had
some very good spells and we thoroughly deserved our lead at half-time,"
Cresswell told whufc.com.

"Going into the second half, it's disappointing that we didn't hold onto the
lead, but we're knew they were going to fight until the end because they're
in a massive relegation fight.

"We're just disappointed we had to settle for a draw and didn't come away
with the three points."

Before suffering second half heartache, Cresswell was able to celebrate his
first goal since April, collecting a cross-field pass from Michail Antonio
before blasting low past Brad Guzan from 25 yards.

The defender revealed how he expected to get forward regularly after Slaven
Bilic opted to start with a 4-4-2 diamond formation that saw the four
midfielders play compact and narrow, opening up space for him to run into.

"We knew myself and Tonks were going to get a lot of the ball and Michail
has switched the ball fantastically, I took a touch and shot and thankfully
it's gone in the bottom corner.

"It's nice to get goals and assists, but first and foremost as a defender
it's about clean sheets. We've conceded one goal in four games which is not
too bad when you look at it.

"Obviously we want to get the three points more than clean sheets and the
goals. That said, it's another point on the board and we've got a lot of
games coming up over the next two weeks and we've got to look forward to
Southampton now."

Cresswell was unsure whether the decision to penalise Angelo Ogbonna for a
foul on Rudy Gestede for Ayew's penalty was the correct one, while also
pointing to a late incident inside the Villa box, when Ashley Westwood
appeared to handle Alex Song's through-ball.

"I initially thought it was a foul on Angelo at first, but I think it was a
penalty. I'd have to see it again, though, looking at it from where I was on
the pitch.

"We could have had a couple of penalties ourselves there. I was sat inside
the dressing room in the last ten minutes watching the game on TV and Alex
had a little ball that he tried to dink over, their lad has clearly
handballed it and the ref hasn't given it."

While there was some frustration at failing to beat the Premier League's
bottom side, who have won just once all season, Cresswell said the Hammers
had to take pride in the fact they have become so hard to beat despite their
recent injury issues.

"Every team in the Premier League has got international and they're all
fantastic players. I said last week that an away point is never the worst
result in the world, but of course we fancied ourselves coming here, as
they're low on confidence whereas ours is quite high.

"It's bitterly disappointing we didn't hold onto the lead and take the three
points."

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Bilic - We'll take the point
WHUFC.com

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic had mixed feelings after Aston Villa
came from behind to claim a point against his team on Boxing Day. The
Hammers led 1-0 at the break thanks to Aaron Cresswell's fine strike, but
were pegged back by Jordan Ayew's second half penalty.
It extended the Londoners' draw streak to five, and Bilic said all things
considered, with their injury list, the result should be seen as a positive.
"Before the game we are looking to win it, and especially at half-time when
we are 1-0 up," he said. "Of course we knew they would come at us, but we
hoped we could frustrate them by keeping the ball or hurt them with the
space behind. "Unfortunately we didn't do it and they were awarded a penalty
which gave them a lift. To be fair, when you consider the whole situation
with injuries before the game, and even during the game, we will take the
point as a good one away from home."

The award of Villa's spot kick, for a foul on Rudy Gestede by Angelo
Ogbonna, was also a source of frustration for the Gaffer. He explained: "For
me, I had a good angle and Ogbonna was in front of Gestede. The only reason
Gestede came in front of Ogbonna is that he pulled his shirt. "It's not just
a quick one, it lasted, so for me it was a foul. But then he's given a
penalty, and then there's been a couple of handballs which at least one
should have been rewarded with a penalty. "We didn't, we can't change it.
We can moan, but what's the point of that?"

Bilic now faces a wait to see whether James Tomkins and Aaron Cresswell will
make Monday's visit of Southampton after departing the action early due to
injury. He added: "It's very frustrating to have both full-backs out of the
game [during the course of it]. With Tomkins it's a situation that long-term
it's nothing serious but his eye is shut and the problem is the game is in a
couple of days time. "Cresswell, he felt some tightness and it was a
precaution [to take him off]. We have to wait until tomorrow."

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Aston Villa 1 West Ham 1
26 December 2015
Last updated at 21:58
By Aimee Lewis
BBC Sport

A Jordan Ayew penalty helped bottom-of-the-table Aston Villa come from
behind to earn a draw against a West Ham team which has not won since 24
October. In an evenly contested game, Villa twice went close in the first
half through Rudy Gestede before Aaron Cresswell scored with a low strike.
The spirited hosts levelled through Ayew after Gestede was clumsily felled
by Angelo Ogbonna. As Villa searched for the winner, Alan Hutton went close
with a header. But the right-back's effort was cleared by James Collins as
West Ham held on for their fifth successive draw to remain ninth in the
league.

Villa have now battled back to earn a point in successive league matches,
but Remi Garde's team desperately need to start collecting three points if
they are to overcome the odds and maintain their Premier League status.
Garde has yet to oversee a Villa victory since succeeding Tim Sherwood as
manager at the beginning of November, although there may be some solace in
the desire his side displayed against a well-organised West Ham side despite
falling behind just before half-time. The grim reality, however, is that
Villa have not won since the opening day of the season and are now 10
matches without a win at Villa Park and nine points from safety. Only three
of the previous 23 sides who were bottom of the Premier League on Christmas
Day have avoided relegation, although the last two sides in that position -
Leicester in 2014 and Sunderland in 2013 - did both survive.

Although Villa fans might look at their mid-table rivals with envy, Slaven
Bilic's side are enduring a slump of their own slump after promising
early-season form. The Londoners' winless run has coincided with the absence
of the injured Dimitri Payet - scorer of five goals in an impressive start
since his arrival from Marseilles - and the France international's return in
the New Year will be welcomed by Bilic's injury-hit side. West Ham are
defensively sound - enjoying three successive clean sheets prior to this
match - but currently lack cutting edge in front of goal.

Not many sides would have been as obliging as Villa in giving Cresswell the
freedom to roam down the left, before cutting inside and striking low into
the far corner from the edge of the box to end West Ham's 388-minute goal
drought. The Hammers had their chances, with Cheikhou Kouyate hitting the
crossbar before Cresswell opened the scoring, but a draw was a fair result
as the visitors' verve died away after the break and the hosts came back
into it.

Man of the match - Jordan Ayew

Gestede was instrumental for Villa, but it was Ayew who led the hosts'
attack and scored a great penalty to give his team hope of survival. The
24-year-old summer signing has now scored five goals for Villa in nine games
and was adventurous and industrious.

What the managers said

Aston Villa boss Remi Garde: "I knew this game was crucial for us. I wanted
to win. A draw was not the goal for this game. "We only missed the points.
What we put into this game was probably the best we can do. I think we
deserved more than we got. I am frustrated and also a bit sad for my
players. "We are still in a very bad position but when I see my team play
it's very encouraging. The performance we gave was not a bottom one. We have
to score goals and be more efficient in the offensive parts."

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic on Villa's penalty: "I am not happy with that
of course. From my point of view I saw Rudy Gestede was pulling Ogbonna's
shirt. With that it gained him an advantage and he got in front of Angelo.
For me it was a foul. "He gave a penalty but if he gave that he should have
given a penalty for one of the handballs for us. Unfortunately, he didn't.
"It's mixed emotions for us. When you are leading 1-0 at half-time against a
team which is fighting for their lives and nervous, you expect to win the
game. "They scored a penalty and then got the momentum so it was a fair
point. With the injuries and everything that happened we showed good
character. We got a point away from home which is good. Hopefully we will
have a few players back very soon."

The stats you need to know

Aston Villa are now winless in 17 Premier League games - only four teams
have ever had a longer run in the division (Derby 32, Sunderland 26, Norwich
21 and Nottingham Forest 19 - QPR also had a run of 17).
West Ham have recorded five successive top-flight draws for the first time
since October 1968.
Aaron Cresswell scored his first Premier League goal since April and his
first for the Hammers away from Upton Park.
Aston Villa have won just one of their past 15 games on Boxing Day (Won 1,
Drawn 5, Lost 9).
The Hammers have earned 16 points on the road so far this season, the same
tally as in the whole of last season.

What next?

Prior to this match, Garde had said his team needed "at least 10 victories"
from their remaining 21 matches to avoid relegation, and one of those
victories must surely come against fellow strugglers Norwich on Monday.
On the same day, West Ham will hope to end their eight-match winless run
against a Southampton side which enjoyed a thumping 4-0 win over Arsenal on
Boxing Day.

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Defensive duo doubtful for Southampton clash
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 26th December 2015
By: Staff Writer

Aaron Cresswell and James Tomkins are both doubful for Monday 's game
against Southampton after both were substituted during this afternoon's 1-1
draw at Aston Villa. Full back Cresswell was substituted midway through the
second half after feeling a hamstring whilst Tomkins, playing out of
position at rigth back was replaced at half time after his eye closed up
following a first half challenge.

Slaven Bilic, speaking after the game about the two key players told
reporters: "It's very frustrating to have both full-backs out of the game.
"With Tomkins it's a situation that long-term is nothing serious, but his
eye is shut and the problem is the game is in a couple of days time.
Cresswell felt some tightness and it was a precaution. We have to wait until
tomorrow."

On the positive side, Bilic expects to have both Andy Carroll and Manuel
Lanzini - neither of whom were risked at Villa Park today - available for
selection once again following recent injuries.

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Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham Utd
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 26th December 2015
By: Staff Writer

West Ham were denied the opportunity to record their first win in eight
games deep into injury time.

Mike Dean, so often the scourge of West Ham over the years dropped another
clanger at Villa Park this afternoon when he failed to award Slaven Bilic's
side a cast-iron penalty for a clear hand ball by Ashley Westwood from an
Alex Song shot.

However to concede a spot kick at the death would have been harsh on the
hosts, who - despite having failed to win a Premier League game since the
opening day of the season in August - were by far the better side in a game
Hammers fans will be keen to forget.

Slaven Bilic's side, bereft of its key attacking personnel were distinctly
second best and despite having drawn a fifth successive game, have now taken
just six points from the last possible 24 - a sequence that has seen them
slip towards mid-table obscurity following a promising start to the
campaign.

Yet it was the Hammers who took the lead on the stroke of half time through
Aaron Cresswell, scoring his first goal of the season, against the run of
play.

Two minutes after Cheik Kouyate's glancing header had skimmed the crossbar,
and deep into first half injury time, the left back took advantage of acres
of room on the left-hand side to drive towards the penalty area from where
he unleashed a powerful drive that beat Brad Guzan's low to his left.

For a Villa side already bereft of confidence, that should have been a
killer blow. However the Hammers inexplicable allowed the hosts to take
control of the second period from the restart and the only surprise was that
it took them so long to equalise.

Tinged with controversy, the goal that levelled the game came from the
penalty spot after Angelo Ogbonna was adjudged to have felled Rudy Gestede
inside the penalty area. West Ham claims that Villa's striker impeded the
Italian international appeared to have some merit - even if they were
entirely ignored by referee Dean.

As the game wore on, only one side looked like winning the game and Adrian
was called into action time and time again - whilst James Collins, fresh
from signing a new two-year contract extension, ensured parity was
maintained with a goal-line clearance 16 minutes from time.

Yet it was West Ham who should have been afforded the opportunity to take
all three points when substitute Alex Song's shot was clearly handled by
Westwood in the third minute of added-on time. Despite protestations from
Bilic's men, the Villa midfielder was allowed to proceed unpunished by the
referee - and the game subsequently ended in a stalemate.

The draw extends West Ham's unbeaten run to four games, following earlier
draws against West Brom, Man United and Stoke. However concerns over
United's ability to break opposition teams down continue to arise.

Today saw Bilic start with nine players who were part of Sam Allardyce's
squad last season - and the performance was not dissimilar in style to those
produced on the road by Big Sam during his tenure at the club, with West Ham
apparently content to sit deep and play a containing game.

Although marginally better than last weekend when they managed just 27 per
cent possession against Swansea (it was 41 per cent today), on the road
Bilic's team are currently a shadow of the side that began the campaign in
such inventive, attacking fashion.

Whilst much of that is down to the absence of key creators such as Dimitri
Payet, Manuel Lanzini and Victor Moses - and a key striker in Diafra Sakho -
the team appear to be content to merely tread water until their return.

That said, Bilic will no doubt have been the happier of the two managers at
the final whistle - with the point leaving Villa four points adrift at the
foot of the table still waiting for their first win since the opening day of
the season.

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Bilic disappointed with a point
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 26th December 2015
By: Staff Writer

Slaven Bilic has expressed his disappointment after Aston Villa came from
behind to earn a share of the spoils at Villa Park this afternoon. West Ham
were leading at half time thanks to Aaron Cresswell's excellent strike in
first half injury time. However the hosts came back to earn a point thanks
to Rudy Gestede's second half penalty - which arrived in dubious
circumstances, according to Bilic.
"I am not happy with that," he admitted post match. "From my point of view I
saw Rudy Gestede was pulling Ogbonna's shirt. With that, it gained him an
advantage and he got in front of Angelo. For me it was a foul. "He [referee
Mike Dean] gave a penalty, but if he gave that he should have given a
penalty for one of the handballs for us. Unfortunately, he didn't. "They
scored the penalty and then got the momentum, so it was a fair point. With
the injuries and everything that happened we showed good character and we
got a point away from home, which is good. Hopefully we will have a few
players back very soon."

Yet the manager - whose team have collected just six points from the last
possible 24, despite going unbeaten in their last five matches (all of which
have been drawn) - revealed that he was disappointed to lose the lead once
again. "It's mixed emotions for us," he said. "Before the game we are
looking to win it, and especially at half-time when we were 1-0 up. When you
are leading at half-time against a team which is fighting for their lives
and nervous, you expect to win the game. "Of course we knew they would come
at us, but we hoped we could frustrate them by keeping the ball or hurt them
with the space behind. Unfortunately we didn't do it and they were awarded a
penalty which gave them a lift. "To be fair, when you consider the whole
situation with injuries before the game, and even during the game, we will
take the point as a good one away from home."

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We deserved to win, says Garde
KUMb.com
Filed: Saturday, 26th December 2015
By: Staff Writer

Aston Villa boss Remi Garde believes his side deserved to beat West Ham at
Villa Park this afternoon.

The French manager is still seeking his first win since becoming Villa boss
two months ago next week. However he felt his team, four points adrift at
the bottom of the Premier League were hard done by against an under-strength
Hammers side today.

"This game was crucial for us. I wanted to win," he told the media
post-match. "A draw was not the goal for this game. We only missed the
points, what we put into this game was probably the best we can do. I think
we deserved more than we got. I am frustrated and also a bit sad for my
players.

"We are still in a very bad position but when I see my team play [like that]
it's very encouraging. The performance we gave was not a bottom one but we
have to score goals and be more efficient in the offensive parts."

Yet Garde - who team found themselves 1-0 down at half time before grabbing
a second half equaliser from the penalty spot - also found time to praise
West Ham's defensive capabilities.

"West Ham defended very well," he added. "We knew they would because they
have had three clean sheets in a row in their last three games. We knew it
would be difficult to score goals today.

"But if you include the last 45 minutes at Newcastle, we've played good
football for a long time now - we just haven't been rewarded with the goals
which is a little bit frustrating.

"But the way we put them under pressure today was a very nice feeling. The
players did very well - what I was looking for. I am just very disappointed
for the lads because they fought very hard for 90 minutes."

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Slaven Bilic believes West Ham should have been awarded a penalty at Aston
Villa
Last Updated: 26/12/15 8:34pm
SSN

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic felt his side should have been awarded a penalty
in their Boxing Day draw with Aston Villa. The Hammers took the lead at
Villa Park thanks to Aaron Cresswell's strike in first half stoppage time
before Villa hit back through Jordan Ayew, who converted a penalty after
Angelo Ogbonna was adjudged to have fouled Rudy Gestede. The visitors then
saw two penalty claims waved away by referee Mike Dean, as both Leandro
Bacuna and Ashley Westwood escaped punishment for handling the ball in the
area. "We had two appeals for handballs and, for me, if the referee gave
them that penalty, he should have given us at least one, but he didn't,"
Bilic told Sky Sports. The Croatian questioned Dean's awarding of Aston
Villa's penalty, adding: "In my opinion, Ogbonna was in front of Gestede and
the only reason Gestede was able to get in front of Ogbonna was to because
he pulled his shirt. "For me it was a foul, the referee gave a penalty. We
can't change it, we have to move on, that's it."

The result at Villa Park was West Ham's fifth consecutive draw, although
Cresswell''s strike, his first since April, ensured the Hammers avoided
becoming the fourth team to play out four straight goalless draws. And Bilic
had no qualms with the final result, praising his side for their resilient
display as the club continues to deal with a severe injury crisis. "It was a
fair result; it was a good English game, very direct," he added. "We are not
totally happy because we were winning at half-time and we were expecting not
only to hold on but to resist their attacks and then have space to hurt them
and score a second one which would have probably killed the game off.
"Unfortunately we weren't able to score and after the break they were
awarded a penalty. After 1-1 it could have gone either way so with all those
things, and when you consider all of the injuries before the game and during
the game, it's a good point for us. The guys are battling, the guys are
fighting. We are not playing the way we played before and we are not playing
the way we would like but we are showing that character and we are picking
up points and not losing games. "Hopefully a few players will be back soon
and it's very important to go through this period but not losing games at
least."

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Four Premier League sides keen to sign Bournemouth's Matt Ritchie in January
22:30, 26 DEC 2015
BY TOM HOPKINSON
But Cherries boss Eddie Howe knows he cannot allow one of his top stars to
leave if they are to retain their Premier League status this season
The Mirror

Everton boss Roberto Martinez wants to sign Matt Ritchie from Bournemouth.
The Goodison Park gaffer is one of a number of Premier League bosses who
would love to have the 26-year-old in the ranks, with West Ham and West Brom
also keen. Even Manchester United are keeping tabs on the player, as we
first told you back in the summer. The problem for Martinez and his rivals,
however, is that Cherries boss Eddie Howe knows he cannot allow one of his
top stars to leave if they are to retain their Premier League status this
season. Ritchie, who signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract at
Bournemouth 11 months ago, has consistently been a stand-out performer for
the Dean Court side since they won promotion.

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Hammers slip to tenth in league
Posted by Sean Whetstone on December 26, 2015 in Sean's Blogs, Whispers
C and H

One year ago today West Ham sat in fifth place after a Boxing Day two nil
away defeat Chelsea. After 18 games last term we managed nine wins, four
draws and five losses. We had 31 points and a goal difference of +8
conceding 21 goals but scoring 29 goals before Boxing day 2014.

Fast forward 365 days, we have won six games, drawn eight games and lost
four games. We have 26 points and a goal difference of +4, scoring 26 goals
but conceding 22 in the opposite direction.

Of course it is dangerous to compare the style of Sam Allardyce with Slaven
Bilic or put these two stats next to each other to tell us anything
meaningful.

It is strange season where Leicester City lead the league at the time of
writing, Crystal Palace sit in fifth place with 30 points and Manchester
United drop to sixth after four losses on the trot and no win in seven games
for the first time since 1990. Watford are also a surprise package sitting
in seventh place above us.

Some have argued we were in a false position when we sat in third place
earlier this season and a top six finish is unachievable this season. Our
wins against Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea seem a distant memory.

We have have not won in eight games since we beat Chelsea on 24th October
and today recorded our 5th draw in a row.

It is first time since October 1968 that West Ham have recorded five draws
in a row in the top flight.

If you were wondering when is the last time we didn't win in eight games it
was only last season although it included the West Bromwich Albion game in
the FA Cup. (7 league games and 1 FA Cup match) From Liverpool 31st Jan to
Arsenal 14th March.

Before that it was eleven games without a win with three West Ham managers
in charge. Avram Grant. Kevin Keen and Big Sam which included 9 losses and 2
draws. That bad run started with Stoke in the FA Cup 13th March. Keen took
charge for the last game of the season which we lost 3-0 to Sunderland. Sam
took charge first game of the following season and lost 1-0 to Cardiff City.

Before that run it was eight straight losses under Pardew 2006-07 includes 3
Cup games including 2 against Palermo. Roeder also had a twelve game run
without a win. My thanks to Steve Marsh for the historic stats above.

Poor old Aston Villa are now winless in 17 Premier League games - only four
teams have ever had a longer such run in the division (Derby 32, Sunderland
26, Norwich 21 and Nottingham Forest 19 - QPR also had a run of 17).

I am all for respecting the point but we need turn a corner very soon if we
don't want to slip further down the Premier League table.

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Sorry Irons - that simply wasn't good enough
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 26, 2015 in Hugh's Blogs, News,
Whispers
C and H

Match verdict

That was unacceptable - no ifs, no buts.simply not on!

However, within 10 mins of the game finishing there was a Twitter poll
running asking if Slaven Bilic was the right manager, or whether we need a
new boss. That too is equally unacceptable, indeed ridiculous.

Various things shocked me today but chiefly that Villa appeared to want it
so much more than us. Running that a close second was the fact that we
failed to control the ball al over the pitch or picked up second - or indeed
sometimes - third balls.

It was very very poor but for the record Villa scored their equaliser from a
very soft Ogbonna 'foul' and we should have had a couple ourselves notably
at the end when Westwood clearly used his arm inside the box to stop a
Hammers advance.

That is mentioned merely for the record and does not excuse the lightweight
performance which we really should have gone on to win after Aaron
Cresswell's beautiful angled shot which gave us the lead in first half
injury time.

Villa though cam out like men possessed in the second half and sadly we let
them play all round us before equalising when Ogbonna - running behind
Gestede was adjudged by ref Mike Dean to have brought him down. It was
marginal at best! Ayew however, took the coolest of spot kicks lifting the
ball high past Adrian.

However, we should have had one of our own in the 69th minute when Bacuna's
hands were up to push away a Noble piledriver which Dean presumably saw as
ball to hand. Doubtful.

Seven minutes later James Collins headed off the line and right at the end
Valencia saw a great free kick pushed around a post but it has to be said
that Villa were guvnors for much too long.

There are two ways of vewing the current run of results. You can see it as
all totally unacceptable and question the manager or you can be positive and
view it as an unbeaten run of five games in a very difficult time.

Today simply wasn't good enough against a team with a work ethic and not
much else. Hopefully Manu Lanzini will be back on Monday and Dimi Payet for
Liverpool.

That will make a difference but there's also a worry that we are stuck into
a defensive mode from which the players may find it hard to emerge.

We're in ninth place with another winnable match to come on Monday - it
needs to be won.

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Leroy: 'It's time to break the cycle and get positive'
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 26, 2015 in Leroy's Blogs, News,
Whispers
C and H

Leroy Rosenior

Ok, we've all been very understanding of the injury crisis and accepted the
goal-less draws that have come our way over the last three games. BUT, we
simply cannot go to Villa Park this afternoon and defend for our lives and
just hope that something happens to break for us in their penalty area .
Villa are bottom of the League and their defence is very poor so we have to
make it pay. We cannpt be in a mood of gifting them ground, points and any
kind of morale boosting result. We really do need to get on the front foot
and make it happen for us. I think I was proved right about Jelavic - he's
not got any line leading virtues for me and I'd be tempted to play Antonio
through the middle and push Kouyate up behind him with Zarate down the left.
Look, these are not poor players. They have a lot about them and if we let
them loose they can beat Villa who really are not a good side. We need a win
- plain and simple. This defensive way of playing is all well and good and
it's been understandable but the trouble is once you get into this mindset
it isn't easy to break it when the flair players come back. The back four
looks after itself and with Noble and Song in front doing the holding, there
is plenty of opportunity for Kouyate to join in with the likes of Zarate,
Valencia and Antonio. We have enough to in this and I expect us to 2-1. But
Jelavic? He's not for me!

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Gold thrilled with Bilic decision
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on December 26, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

David Gold is delighted that Slaven Bilic insisted that James Collins was
offered a new deal at the club.

Ginge goes back to his former club Villa this afternoon clearly wanting to
celebrate the two year deal with a much needed victory.

And Gold - speaking exclusively to ClaretandHugh - said: "If there was ever
a player who deserved it James is that man. His dedication to this club has
been immense and he couldn't be more pleased. I'm delighted for him.

"Slaven made the decision and we are all pleased to bits because we love
Ginge and it means he will probably see his career out with us."

Ginge spent three years at Villa between his two spells for the Irons and a
win up there this afternoon would be a perfect Christmas present for him and
the team."

Gold said: "He's shown such enormous application and was immense against
Swansea. He is the perfect role model for the young players at the club. A
real club man."

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